The “Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance” has not been reviewed for more than 20 years. The Legislative Council passed the amendment to the relevant ordinance yesterday, including extending the prosecution period from half a year to nine months. . Sun Yuhan, director of the Labor and Welfare Bureau, said that the substantial increase in fines is an important step in safeguarding occupational safety and health; members of the labor sector believe that increasing fines for work-related injuries can strengthen deterrence and demonstrate justice, but some members of the business community are concerned about the affordability of small and medium-sized enterprises and urge the government to clarify responsibility.
The occupational safety and health legislation, which has not reviewed the penalties for more than 20 years, was amended by the Legislative Council in a secret ballot yesterday. The amount of fines in this amendment has been greatly increased. For serious crimes that can be convicted through public prosecution, the maximum penalty has been increased by 19 times from 500,000 yuan to 10 million yuan, and the prison sentence has been increased from 1 year to 2 years. When considering the turnover and financial situation of the convicted unit; as for crimes convicted through summary procedures, the penalty is increased to a maximum of 3 million yuan, and the prosecution time limit is extended from half a year to nine months.
Labor and Welfare Director Sun Yuhan met with reporters after the meeting with a number of lawmakers. Sun said that the deliberation process lasted more than 8 months. Although the process went through “ups and downs”, in the end, all parties sought common ground while reserving differences for the safety of wage earners and Hong Kong’s occupational safety and health. He thanked the congressmen representing labor and management, and thought it was “a demonstration of good governance in the new era.” Good example.” Sun pointed out that the Labor Department will conduct a review two years after the implementation of the regulations, emphasizing that large-scale publicity will be carried out to raise awareness of occupational safety and health in the industry.
Labor sector: Raising fines shows justice
Member of the Election Committee Sector (Federation Union) Lu Songxiong said that employers involved in fatal industrial accidents used to be fined only tens of thousands of yuan, which is unfair to families who have lost their loved ones. 10 million can only demonstrate justice, “I hope the court will not be too merciful in its judgment, because kindness is cruel to other wage earners.”
Member of the Legislative Council (Wholesale and Retail Industry) Shao Jiahui said that although the industry’s opposition to the amendments has decreased, it does not mean that they agree to increase the maximum fine for violations of very serious crimes to 10 million yuan. He pointed out that it is difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to afford tens of millions of fines. He also pointed out that not only employers are responsible for employees who are injured during work, but employees are also responsible. He urged the government to clarify the responsibility.
